Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant has declined his $31.5 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN.
Durant’s business manager, Rich Kleiman, informed Warriors general manager Bob Myers of the decision in recent days.
Durant and Kleiman are together in New York, where they’ve been mulling Durant’s free-agency options. So far, it has been a fairly clandestine process.
Durant is still considering a number of scenarios in free agency, including a return to Golden State, league sources tell ESPN. The New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers are also believed to be considerations, sources said.
Durant, 30, can sign a four-year, $164 million deal with another team, and remains eligible to sign a five-year, $221 million deal with the Warriors.
Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP with the Warriors, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the Finals on June 10 and is expected to need the 2019-20 season to fully rehabilitate the injury.
Every team pursuing him is expected to still offer him a full max contract.